The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1887-10-16
TWO ROBBERS KILLED.
Further News Of the Brave
Express Messenger.
PARTICULARS OF HIS FIGHT
He is Congratulated by the Company
and HonOrsd by the Citizens
General News.
The Messenger and His victory.


Ell PAso, Tex, October 15.-The re
ports sent from here last night, owing
to the lateness of the hour, regarding
the attempted train robbery, gave but
g fraction OF the tale. 1t was thought a
great victory that one robber should be
killed. What was the astonlshment of
the public, therefore, when the dead
body of another Tob5er was brought in
this morning. The Galveston, Harris
burg & San Antonio express, which
should have started east yesterday at
4.3O pm, was delayed till about $50
O'Clock in waiting for the Southern Pa
cifc train from the west. Engineer
Lohrer says that when his train had
gone about a mile, Two men wearing
cloth masks came over the tender
with reVolvers in each hand. The en-
gineer tried to stop the train, but the
men ordered him to run on to curve
and stop "qulck." When he reached
the curve he supposed they meant, five
miles from the city, they ordered him
and his fireman off the engine, and
TOOK them back to the express
firing off their revol5els, aid
shouting and cursing. Reaching the
express car, one of them threw dyna-
mite against the front door on one side
of the car. The explosion knocked,
large hole in the door, and broke out
the glass in the other doors. The robbers
called the express messenger to come
out. The NJ Messenger was J. Ernest Smith;
with him was J. Z. Beardsley, clerk in
Wells, Fargo g. Co.'s Office at Fort
Worth. When they heard the firing
they put out the lights and went to the
rear of the car. At the command of
,Sshe robbers they came out, Smith leav-
ing his revolver Just inside the door.
The robbers ordered Smith and Boards
ley to hold up their hands, and then
searched them. Smith was then
commanded to go back into the
car and light the lamps. He
climbed back and the foremost rob-
pistol, placed it almost against the rob-
ber's breast and fred, sending a bullet
through his heart. The robber fell back
dead, but fred twice at Smith while
falling and Smith and the other
robber also exchanged shots.
The robber then attempted to get his
Comrade' s body on the engine, intending
TO unconple it from the train and run
On. While he was trying to lift the
body upon the engine, Messenger Smith
got his double-barrelled shotgun, leaned
out OF the car and shot at him. The
robber sank down, then sprang
up and ran off out of sight.
The train returned to this city.
The express car was repacked
and the train went on, Messenger
Smith remaining III the city. Deputy
United States Marshals Van Ripper and
Ross at once started for YsIeta, thirteen
miles east of Ell Paso, secured three
experienced Mexican trailers, and had
them at the scene of the holdup before
daylight. City Marshal White and other
officers were on the ground by sunrise.
The hunt was short. Less than fifty
yards from where he was shot lay the
second robber dead. His body was
brought back to the city and placed be-
side his late comrRde in crime. An ex-
animation showed that only one buck
shot had struck him; that entered the
front side of the left shoulder and cut
the aerta just above the heart.
The officers are reticent, but it
is learned that they believe they are
Oh the trail of more robbers. The the
Cry is that the pals of the two men or
the tram were waiting With horses
little beyond where the train was held
up and the robbers intended to run for
ward with the engine and leave the rest
Of the train. The two ROBBERS
killed were about % years of
age and powerfully built men,
The first one killed bad on his person
~ express receipt dated Terre Haute,
Indiana, September Is, for a trunk
marked J. Z. Emerson, and received
from J. E Emerson. The second
robber is minus the third finger On the
right hand. One had about S2U. the
other SIS. They are recognized here,
but their names are unknown. Both
we're photographed to day. Mes
senger Smith is from St. Louis,
living now at San Antonio; he
has been an employe OF Wells,
Fargo & Company for four years. He
runs between Ell Paso and San Antonio.
The citizens of Ell Paso presented him
with suit of clothes to day, and have
raised over 500 for a medal. J. W.
NichOllo, Rperinteudent OF Wells,
Fargo & Co. for Texas and Louisiana,
teleRrsphed Smith to-day congratulate
ing him on his victory, and saying if his
example is followed, train robbing will
soon b. 4 thing of the past.